China’s “national team,” which was organized by the authorities and endowed with billions in cash to save the stock market following last year’s crash, pledged that the rescue operation would extend into the next few years. However, reports published by a number of listed companies have revealed that it has been staging a silent retreat.

The effect of last year’s Occupy Central Movement for democracy in Hong Kong was manifested in the results of the District Council election held last Sunday.

The 2-week nomination period for Hong Kong’s District Council Election began on Oct. 2. A total of 431 constituencies will be up for grabs in 18 different districts.

Two months after Hong Kong vetoed a Beijing-backed political reform bill, Beijing took the initiative to renew contact with the pan-democrats in Hong Kong.

The recent scandal in which Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying is suspected to have interfered with the appointment of Professor Johannes Chan as pro vice-chancellor of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has caused widespread concern in the territory.

Following the clampdown on Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement, the pan-democrats have yet to come up with any concrete ideas on how to move ahead with Hong Kong’s long road to democracy. Different groups have been toying with ideas ranging from pressing for a revision of the Basic Law to demanding independence.